Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.

NINE

Holding Hands

He didn't know when, but somehow along the way, he slipped his hand into hers, and she made no attempt to pull away. Her hand felt cold in his, and he was slightly surprised, because everyone he'd ever known had told him that he had exceptionally cold hands; hers were colder, but he liked the feel of them, liked the way they felt in his grasp, and he thought they fit perfectly.

It was the first time he'd seen her in years. After the team split, he never kept in contact with any of the members – not even Robin – until one day she showed up outside his doorstep. He'd fallen for her all over again, then, seeing her long unkempt hair and the glimpse of pale skin beneath a wrinkled dark blue cloak. She barely knew what to call him, tumbled into his arms instead, and as he led her in he felt the entire room shaking. Whether it was her powers or his nerves, he never quite found out.

Time had leapt by with its habitual speed, and he'd decided to take her out to talk about things. "A little sunshine will do you good," he'd told her after she freshened up. She looked so pale he wondered if she'd spent the years locked up in some secluded room.

Barely touching the crowd around them, they both made their way forward silently. He'd given up talking when he realized that no matter what he said she would not reply, and settled for a silence short of companionable.

Then someone called her name.

"Raven?"

He felt her hand stiffen in his as they turned around to face the one who had broken the silence, and he tensed into preparation, ready to protect her from whatever villain was behind them. But it was just Beast Boy, looking slightly older, taller, and more muscular.

Beside him Raven stifled a gasp.

"You…" She had uttered her first word. He hardly noticed the fact that her voice was hoarse from disuse; he was too busy entertaining the disappointment at her first word not being his but some other's name instead. He watched the two Titans staring at each other, both immobile, and sensed that something was not right.

"Raven? This time it was his turn to ask, but she paid no attention to him, reacted as though he hadn't spoken at all.

"I see you've made some new friends," beast Boy hardly bothered keeping the bitterness out of his tone.

"You were the one who left." The girl beside him growled.

"And you never bothered to wait?"

"I waited! I waited three years!"

"You–"

"You were too busy looking for her!"

"It's always about her, isn't it, Raven? You think that everything I do, I do because of her. Well here's the truth: I went after her that day because I had to make sure she was gone – gone from my mind – gone completely, before I could ever hope to get your attention again. I left because I had to destroy the memory of her. I couldn't go on living with her in my head and you in my heart."

He watched as Beast Boy turned away, stubborn mouth turned down at the sides, eyes glistening slightly, and then headed off into the crowd.

The almost lifeless figure attached to him was still and quiet.

And then, she looked up. He heard the whispered words "I'm sorry" as she peeled her hand away from his, cheeks blushing, and with a louder, clearer, "Beast Boy, wait!" and disappeared into the throng of moving people.

Aqualad was left standing in the middle of the mall with only his cold, empty hands.

A/N: Okay, I think this is one of them stories that you'll have to read again once I clear up the immense confusion it created. It spawned from this idea: after the last episode of Season 5 of "Teen Titans, Go!", when Terra disappeared, Beast Boy left the team to look for her and the team slowly disintegrated and broke up, each member going their own way. So this little story takes place about 3 years later, and obviously Raven seeks comfort in Aqualad, a member of Titans East whom she kinda went nuts over in one of the Teen Titan episodes. But of course, who should reappear but Beast Boy, with the truth about his disappearance, no less.

So read it again if you want, with all this in mind. Otherwise, don't read it again and just comment!

When I get more ideas I'll upload them, but until then, this story remains on hold!

I haven't forgotten the reviewers, though, so here's a little note of appreciation to those who reviewed Chapter 8:

acosta perez jose ramiro – thank you for reviewing! Yes, I'm glad you got the essence of the one shot, which was the hilarious contrast between Raven's supposed dark nature and the goofy little lovey-dovey poem she read out!

silverxpearls – thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed the previous story, and I hope you'll like this one as well. Yes, I'll definitely update when I get more ideas!

Agent of the Divine One – Yes, it was definitely out of character for Raven, although I kind of wanted it that way, which was why I even included the anonymous audience members talking about how 'dark' her poetry was meant to be! But I do understand it might have been too out of character for her!

Toran of the Raysed – thank you for reviewing!

Tammy Tamborine – thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked the previous story, and I'm glad you found it amusing because I certainly did.

CrazyEmotions – thank you for the compliment, and the review! I hope you like this update as well.

Next Update: unavailable